Coco Gauff achieved a new milestone in her career, reaching the world No. 2 ranking following her performance at Roland Garros. Gauff's climb to this new ranking sets the stage for an exciting semifinal clash Thursday against the formidable Iga Swiatek.
Tennis journalist José Morgado announced Gauff’s new ranking Wednesday on X, formerly Twitter. Her journey to this point has been marked by determination. The 2023 US Open champion faces a daunting challenge in Swiatek, who has dominated the French Open in recent years. Swiatek, the world No. 1, has won three of the past four French Open titles and continues to impress with her powerful performances on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
In the quarterfinals, Swiatek dismantled Marketa Vondrousova with a 6-0, 6-2 victory, leaving Vondrousova bewildered by Swiatek’s strength and dominance.
“Yeah, it's very tough. I feel like on the court you have nothing to offer. She's just too strong here,” Vondrousova said, via Tom Hamilton of ESPN.
Gauff, however, is approaching the semifinal with confidence. Despite a lopsided head-to-head record against Swiatek, where she has lost 10 out of their 11 meetings, Gauff is optimistic.
“Look, she's obviously No. 1 in the world, and she won this tournament, like, what, three times already,” Gauff said after her quarterfinal win Tuesday over Ons Jabeur. “I think for me I'm just going in with confidence.”
Coco Gauff's road to the semifinals against Iga Swiatek
Gauff’s road to the semifinals included a hard-fought victory over Jabeur. After dropping the first set, Gauff adjusted her strategy, becoming more aggressive to secure a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 win.
“If my level doesn't rise, then I deserve to lose,” Gauff said post-match.
Reflecting on her previous matches against Swiatek, Gauff is aware of the challenges ahead. Swiatek herself noted the progress in Gauff's mental game since their first meeting in 2021.
“I think her mental game is a little bit better,” Swiatek said. “It's normal that she's making progress. Every aspect of her game is a little bit better.”
Gauff has worked on her mental fortitude, often seen doing breathing exercises during changeovers and meditating between matches to stay grounded.
“I like to lay on the ground and just meditate, whether it's for literally a minute or two or 10 or 15,” Gauff said after her third-round win over Dayana Yastremska. The practice has helped her manage the pressure and maintain focus.
Iga Swiatek the favorite
Swiatek, coming off a 19-match winning streak at Roland Garros, remains the favorite. Her performance in the quarterfinals against Vondrousova, where she dropped only two games, showcased her readiness.
“Everything worked. I feel like I've been serving better than in previous rounds, so that gave me an extra boost of confidence,” Swiatek said.
As Gauff prepares for the semifinal, she aims to bring her best game and challenge Swiatek’s dominance. “I definitely think I have to find a better way to play her than the last times I played on clay,” Gauff said, planning to draw on her previous matches, including her win over Swiatek in the 2023 Cincinnati Open, where she rallied in a tough three-set match.
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